Furniture apparatuses, and kits, systems, and uses of same

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for holding a decorative cover. The apparatus includes: a body having front and rear opposite sides, the front side of the body having a front surface having a perimeter, the rear side of the body having a rear surface, and the body having an outwardly facing lateral surface between the front and rear surfaces; and a first connector on the body, the first connector detachably connectable, continuously adjacent at least a portion of the perimeter of the front surface, to a second connector, complementary to the first connector, on the decorative cover. A furniture apparatus includes at least one substantially thermoplastic body and one or both of diatomaceous earth and a PA1b-related peptide incorporated in one or more of the at least one body.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 61/482,067 filed May 3, 2011, and of U.S. provisionalpatent application No. 61/563,220 filed Nov. 23, 2011. The entirecontents of both U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/482,067filed May 3, 2011 and U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/563,220filed Nov. 23, 2011 are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The invention relates generally to an apparatus for holding a decorativecover, a kit and a system including the same, a headboard apparatuscomprising a substantially thermoplastic body, a furniture apparatuscomprising diatomaceous earth, legume extracts, or both, and use of oneof the apparatuses, kits, or systems to control a population of animals.

2. Related Art

Many bedrooms in homes and hotels, for example, include headboards,which may be attached to a head of a bed, or which may be attached to awall proximate the head of the bed. Many conventional headboards includea decorative cover upholstered to a wooden frame. However, wood isdisadvantageously difficult to clean, and upholstered decorative coversmay be difficult or impossible to replace. Generally, once anupholstered cover is removed from a frame, the cover will besignificantly damaged where it was attached, and either not reusable orreusable only on a smaller frame. Therefore, if such a headboard becomesinfested with Cimex lectularius (also known as “bedbugs”) or if there isa desire to change the decorative cover for a new colour scheme, forexample, then generally such conventional headboards must be discardedand replaced. Discarding and replacing headboards is wasteful andenvironmentally damaging, and may be very expensive or cost-prohibitivefor large institutions such as hotels, for example. Further, in someinstitutions such as hotels for example, closing large parts or all ofthe hotel for bedbug or other pest removal can result in significantloss of revenue.

There have been attempts to attach decorative covers by techniques otherthan conventional upholstery. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,506 toFridolph (“Fridolph”) discloses receiving fastener heads, which arearound a perimeter of a decorative panel, in respective recesses on aframe, and then in respective slots adjacent the recesses. The slotshold the fastener heads, and thus the decorative panel, to the frame.However, such a technique attaches the decorative panel only at discretelocations of the fastener heads, thereby leaving unsightly gaps alongthe perimeter of the decorative panel between the discrete locationswhere the decorative panel is attached. Further, to position thefastener heads in the slots, the fastener heads must be received in therespective recesses and then slid from the respective recesses into theadjacent slots. Disadvantageously, sliding the fastener heads fromrespective recesses into respective slots may require stretching ordeforming the decorative panel. Further, the fastener heads may have tobe spaced a minimum distance from the decorative panel to permit suchsliding, and because of such spacing the fastener heads may not hold thedecorative panel close to the frame. The decorative panel may thereforenot be tightly held against the frame, disadvantageously giving thedecorative panel a loose or saggy appearance. It is believed that atleast because of such disadvantages, a headboard as disclosed byFridolph would not be commercially viable and is unlikely to have beenproduced commercially.

Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,195 to Murray (“Murray”) discloses covering afront side of a headboard with fabric, and positioning tubing in agroove in a back side of the headboard to hold the fabric in the grooveunder the tubing. However, such a technique requires carefullypositioning the fabric on the headboard, and maintaining the fabric inposition while the tubing is positioned in the groove. Simultaneouslyholding the fabric and positioning the tubing is disadvantageouslycumbersome and time-consuming. Again, it is believed that at leastbecause of such disadvantages, a headboard as disclosed by Murray wouldnot be commercially viable and is unlikely to have been producedcommercially.

Some known methods of controlling bedbug and other pest populationsinvolve using certain pesticides, but some pesticides may be harmful tohumans and to other life. Other known methods of controlling bedbugpopulations include applying diatomaceous earth, but known methods ofapplying diatomaceous earth can be cumbersome. For example, knownmethods of applying diatomaceous earth may undesirably require handlingthe diatomaceous earth. Further, known methods may be sufficientlycomplex so as to require professional involvement, which may undesirablyadd to cost and delay of bedbug treatment.

SUMMARY

According to one illustrative embodiment, there is provided an apparatusfor holding a decorative cover. The apparatus comprises: a body havingfront and rear opposite sides, the front side of the body having a frontsurface having a perimeter, the rear side of the body having a rearsurface, and the body having an outwardly facing lateral surface betweenthe front and rear surfaces; and a first connector on the body, thefirst connector detachably connectable, continuously adjacent at least aportion of the perimeter of the front surface, to a second connector,complementary to the first connector, on the decorative cover.

The first connector may be on the lateral surface. The first connectormay comprise a hook side of a hook-and-loop connector. The firstconnector may comprise a loop side of a hook-and-loop connector.

The first connector may extend adjacent at least a majority of theperimeter of the front surface. The first connector may extend adjacentsubstantially the entire perimeter of the front surface.

The apparatus may further comprise a third connector for mounting theapparatus on a wall. The third connector may comprise a first edge onthe rear side of the body for coupling with a complementary edge on afourth connector mounted to the wall. The third connector may comprise afirst plurality of spaced apart edges on the rear side of the body forcoupling with respective complementary edges on the fourth connector.

The apparatus may further comprise a fifth connector for mounting theapparatus on a wall. The fifth connector may comprise a second edge onthe rear side of the body for coupling with the complementary edge onthe fourth connector. The second edge may extend non-parallel to thefirst edge. The second edge may extend perpendicular to the first edge.The fifth connector may comprise a second plurality of spaced apartedges on the rear side of the body for coupling with the respectivecomplementary edges on the fourth connector.

The apparatus may further comprise a bed frame connector for connectingthe body to a bed frame. The bed frame connector may comprise at leastone receptacle defined by the body for receiving at least one respectivesupport attachable to the bed frame.

The apparatus may further comprise a light source connector forconnecting a light source proximate the lateral surface. The lightsource may comprise a plurality of lights in a light string, and thelight source connector may comprise a plurality of clips for holding thelight string proximate the lateral surface. The lateral surface of thebody may comprise a translucent portion for transmitting light from thelight source. The apparatus may further comprise a translucent coverconnectable to the lateral surface of the body for covering the lightsource.

The body may define a storage compartment on the rear side of the bodyfor storing objects.

The apparatus may further comprise an inclination measuring device formeasuring inclination of the body. The inclination measuring device maycomprise a bubble level.

The front surface may define a recess for receiving padding between thebody and the decorative cover. The body may define a plurality ofthrough-openings extending between the front and rear surfaces, thethrough-openings for receiving respective fasteners receivable throughthe padding and through the decorative cover to compress the padding inrespective regions surrounding the respective fasteners. The frontsurface may comprise a generally flat planar portion and aninward-facing portion between the generally flat planar portion and thelateral surface of the body. The generally flat planar portion of thefront surface and the inward-facing portion of the front surface maydefine the recess. An adjacent similar apparatus may be stackableagainst the rear side of the body. The body may define a firstprojection having the lateral surface and the inward-facing portion ofthe front surface, and at least a portion of the lateral surface may bepositioned to contact at least a portion of the inward-facing portion ofthe front surface of an adjacent similar apparatus such that theadjacent similar apparatus is stackable against the rear side of thebody when the at least the portion of the lateral surface contacts theat least the portion of the inward-facing portion of the front surfaceof the adjacent similar apparatus.

The body may define, on the rear surface, at least one additionalprojection configured to contact the adjacent similar apparatus when theadjacent similar apparatus is stacked against the rear side of the body.

The body may be substantially thermoplastic. The body may comprisecarbon plastic. The body may comprise a PA1b-related peptideincorporated in the body. The body may further comprise saponinincorporated in the body. The body may comprise diatomaceous earthincorporated in the body. The diatomaceous earth may be about 30% byweight of the body.

According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a kitcomprising the apparatus and the decorative cover.

According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a kitcomprising the apparatus, the padding, and the decorative cover.

According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a systemcomprising the apparatus and the decorative cover, wherein the firstconnector is connected to the second connector such that the decorativecover covers at least a portion of the front surface of the bodysurrounded by the perimeter of the front surface of the body.

According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a systemcomprising the apparatus, the padding, and the decorative cover, whereinthe first connector is connected to the second connector such that thedecorative cover covers at least a portion of the front surface of thebody surrounded by the perimeter of the front surface of the body, andsuch that the decorative cover holds the padding between the body andthe decorative cover and in the recess for receiving padding.

According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided aheadboard apparatus comprising a substantially thermoplastic body havinga holder for holding a decorative cover. The body may comprise carbonplastic.

According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided afurniture apparatus comprising at least one substantially thermoplasticbody and a PA1b-related peptide incorporated in one or more of the atleast one body. The body may further comprise saponin incorporated inthe body. The body may further comprise diatomaceous earth incorporatedin the body. The diatomaceous earth may be about 30% by weight of theone or more of the at least one body. The at least one body may comprisecarbon plastic.

According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided afurniture apparatus comprising at least one substantially thermoplasticbody and diatomaceous earth incorporated in one or more of the at leastone body. The diatomaceous earth may be about 30% by weight of the oneor more of the at least one body. The at least one body may comprisecarbon plastic.

The furniture apparatus may comprise an apparatus for holding adecorative cover.

The furniture apparatus may comprise a bed. The at least onesubstantially thermoplastic body may comprise at least one support forcontacting a floor of a room, and the bed may comprise a platformsupportable by the at least one support and configured to support amattress on the platform.

The furniture apparatus may comprise a table. The at least onesubstantially thermoplastic body may comprise at least one support forcontacting a floor of a room, and the table may comprise a platformsupportable by the at least one support.

The furniture apparatus may comprise a dresser or a nightstand.

The diatomaceous earth may comprise CELATOM™ MN-51. The diatomaceousearth may have a median particle diameter of about 15 microns. Thediatomaceous earth may have a median particle diameter of more thanabout 14 microns. The diatomaceous earth may be about 5.6% CaO. Thediatomaceous earth may comprise more than about 0.9% CaO. Thediatomaceous earth may be about 7.8% Al₂O₃. The diatomaceous earth maycomprise more than about 5.6% Al₂O₃. The diatomaceous earth may have apH of about 7.5 in a 10% slurry. The diatomaceous earth may have a pH ofmore than about 7.0 in a 10% slurry. The diatomaceous earth may be about73.6% SiO₂. The diatomaceous earth may be less than about 83.7% SiO₂.The diatomaceous earth may be about 1.8% Fe₂O₃. The diatomaceous earthmay be less than about 2.3% Fe₂O₃. The diatomaceous earth may compriseless than about 5.0% H₂0 by weight. The diatomaceous earth may be about3.0% H₂O by weight. The diatomaceous earth may absorb water in an amountof about 165% by weight. The diatomaceous earth may be about 0.3% MgO.The diatomaceous earth may be heat-treated. The diatomaceous earth maybe flash dried. The diatomaceous earth may be flash dried at about 480°C.

According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided use ofthe apparatus, the kit, or the system to control one or more of apopulation of animals having exoskeletons, a population of arthropods, apopulation of arachnids, a population of insects, and a population ofCimex lectularius.

Other aspects and features will become apparent to those ordinarilyskilled in the art upon review of the following description of specificembodiments in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings of illustrative embodiments:

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of an illustrative room;

FIG. 2 is an exploded oblique view of a headboard system of the room ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an oblique view of a decorative cover of the headboard systemof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front oblique view of a body of the headboard system of FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is a rear oblique view of the body of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the body of FIG. 4 along the lineVI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the body of FIG. 4 along the lineVII-VII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative system of bodiesincluding the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an oblique view of an electrical switch on the body of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a partial oblique view of the body FIG. 4 and a cleat of theheadboard system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the headboard system of FIG. 2including the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of another illustrative body;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative system of bodiesincluding the cross-sectional view of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front oblique view of another illustrative body;

FIG. 15 is a rear oblique view of the body of FIG. 14 and of anillustrative cleat;

FIG. 16 is a partial rear oblique view of the body of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a front plan view of another illustrative body;

FIG. 18 is a rear oblique view of the body of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the body of FIG. 17 along the lineXIX-XIX in FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a rear oblique view of another illustrative body;

FIG. 21 is a rear plan view of another illustrative body;

FIG. 22 is a front plan view of an illustrative French cleat;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative system includingthe body of FIG. 21 and the French cleat of FIG. 22 taken along thelines XXIII-XXIII in FIGS. 21 and 22;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative system including across-sectional view of the body of FIG. 21 taken along the lineXXIV-XXIV in FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is a rear oblique view of another illustrative body;

FIG. 26 is a front elevational view of another illustrative body;

FIG. 27 is a front elevational view of another illustrative body; and

FIG. 28 is a front elevational view of another illustrative body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an illustrative room includes a floor 86, a wall88, and an illustrative furniture system shown generally at 90 andincluding a nightstand 92, a dresser 94, a bed 96, a mattress 98, and aheadboard system 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, the headboard system 100 includes a decorativecover 102, padding 104, a body 106, and a wall-mountable cleat 108. Thedecorative cover 102 in the embodiment shown includes a generallyrectangular portion 110 having an outer surface 112. The outer surface112 may include any decorative colours, ornamentation, or pattern, forexample. The decorative cover 102 also includes lateral portions 114,116, 118, and 120 extending generally from a perimeter of the generallyrectangular portion 110 and generally perpendicular to the generallyrectangular portion 110. The generally rectangular portion 110 and thelateral portions 114, 116, 118, and 120 may be made from any commonlyavailable fabric and may be stitched together, for example.

Referring to FIG. 3, the lateral portions 114, 116, 118, and 120 haverespective inner surfaces 122, 124, 126 and 128 facing the generallyrectangular portion 110. The lateral portions 114, 116, 118, and 120also have respective outer edges 130, 132, 134, and 136. The decorativecover 102 also has a connector 138 on the inner surfaces 122, 124, 126,and 128 proximate the outer edges 130, 132, 134, and 136. In theembodiment shown, the connector 138 is a so-called “loop side” of ahook-and-loop connector, such as the hook-and-loop connector commonlyknown as VELCRO™ for example.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the padding 104 in the embodiment shownincludes a generally rectangular body made from one or more of manycommonly available foam materials. In alternative embodiments, thepadding 104 may include an air bladder or feather padding, for example.Therefore the padding 104 in some embodiments may be selected to avoidundesired allergens, for example. The padding 104 may include afire-retardant substance as may be required by law. Further, the padding104 is sized to be received in a recess shown generally at 140 in FIG. 3and defined by the generally rectangular portion 110 and the lateralportions 114, 116, 118, and 120 of the decorative cover 102.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the body 106 has a front side showngenerally at 142 and having a front surface 144 having a perimeter 146.The body 106 also has a rear side shown generally at 148 opposite thefront side 142 and having a rear surface 150. The body 106 also has anoutwardly facing lateral surface 152 between the front surface 144 andthe rear surface 150. Further, a connector 154 is on the body 106continuously adjacent at least a portion of the perimeter 146 of thefront surface 144. In the embodiment shown, the connector 154 is aso-called “hook side” of a hook-and-loop connector, such as thehook-loop-connector commonly known as VELCRO™ for example.

Therefore, the connector 154 (which may be referred to as “a firstconnector” or more generally as “a holder”) on the body 106 isdetachably connectable to the connector 138 (which may be referred to as“a second connector”) on the decorative cover 102. In the embodimentshown, the connector 138 on the decorative cover 102 and the connector154 on the body 106 are so-called “loop side” and “hook side” sidesrespectively of a hook-and-loop connector, and thus the connector 154 onthe body 106 is complementary to the connector 138 on the decorativecover 102.

In alternative embodiments, the decorative cover 102 may include a “hookside” of a hook-and-loop connector and the body 106 may include a “loopside” of the hook-and-loop connector, for example. Also, although theconnector 154 is on the lateral surface 152 of the body 106 in theembodiment shown, the connector 154 may be on the front surface 144 oron the rear surface 150, for example, in alternative embodiments. Thus,“adjacent the perimeter 146” in this context does not require theconnector 154 to adjoin or be precisely on the perimeter 146, but ratherit includes embodiments where the connector 154 is close enough to theperimeter 146 that when the connector 154 is connected to the connector138, the decorative cover 102 appears to cover at least a portion of thefront surface 144 surrounded by the perimeter 146 such that theheadboard system 100 generally functions as a headboard or moregenerally as a decorative panel.

Further, in the embodiment shown, the connector 154 extends adjacent theentire perimeter 146 of the front surface 144. However, in alternativeembodiments, the connector 154 may extend adjacent substantially theentire perimeter 146 of the front surface 144, or the connector 154 mayextend adjacent at least a majority of the perimeter 146 of the frontsurface 144. The connector 154 may be considered to extend adjacent“substantially” the entire perimeter 146 of the front surface 144 if theconnector 154 extends adjacent a sufficient portion of the perimeter 146such that the connector 154 is connectable to the connector 138 on thedecorative cover 102 such that the decorative cover 102 appears to beconnected continuously on the body 106.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the body 106 defines a projection 156having the lateral surface 152 and an inward-facing surface 158. In theembodiment shown, the front surface 144 of the body 106 includes theinward-facing surface 158 of the projection 156, and a generally flatplanar portion 160. Further, the inward-facing surface 158 is betweenthe generally flat planar portion 160 and the lateral surface 152 of thebody 106. The inward-facing surface 158 and the generally flat planarportion 160 define a recess shown generally at 162 for receiving thepadding 104 between the body 106 and the decorative cover 102.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the body 106 defines through-openingsshown generally at 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, and 180 inthe generally flat planar portion 160 of the front surface 144 andextending between the front surface 144 and the rear surface 150. Asshown in FIG. 5, on the rear side 148, the body 106 defines respectivecleats proximate the through-openings 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176,178, and 180. For example, referring to FIG. 6, the body 106 defines acleat 182 on the rear side 148 and proximate the through-opening 172.The cleat 182 includes a relatively wide portion shown generally at 184,and a relatively narrow portion shown generally at 186 between therelatively wide portion 184 and the rear surface 150. The cleat 182 thuspermits a thread or string that is passed through the through-opening172 to be tied around the relatively narrow portion 186 and held inposition by the relatively wide portion 184.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the padding 104 may be received in therecess 162 of the body 106, and also in the recess 140 (also shown inFIG. 3) of the decorative cover 102. For example, using a needle (notshown), thread or string may be passed through one or more of thethrough-openings 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, and 180,through the padding 104 and the decorative cover 102, through a button(not shown), and back through the decorative cover 102, the padding 104,and the through-openings of the body 106. The thread or string may thenbe fastened to a respective cleat, such as the cleat 182 shown in FIG.6, for example. Therefore, the through-openings and respective cleatspermit respective buttons (not shown) to be pulled against thedecorative cover 102 and the padding 104 to compress regions of thepadding 104 proximate the buttons to impart a textured appearance to theouter surface 112 of the decorative cover 102. In that example, thebuttons and thread or string function as fasteners received through thethrough-openings, through the padding 104, and through the decorativecover 102 to compress the padding 104 in respective regions surroundingthe respective fasteners.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the body 106 defines additionalthrough-openings 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, and 200 extending betweenthe front surface 144 and the rear surface 150. Such additionalthrough-openings in some embodiments may reduce weight and productioncost of the body 106. In alternative embodiments, the through-openings188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, and 200 may be omitted or may havedifferent shapes, or may alternatively be closed with a thin film ofthermoplastic material (not shown). Such a thin film of thermoplasticmaterial in some embodiments may protect padding (such as the padding104 shown in FIG. 2, for example) by preventing such padding frompassing through the through-openings 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, and200, or by preventing objects that may damage the padding from passingthrough the through-openings 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, and 200.

Referring to FIG. 5, on the rear side 148, the body 106 in theembodiment shown also defines a plurality of structural ribs, such asillustrative structural ribs 202 and 204 to impart additional strengthto the body 106.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the embodiment shown, the projection 156 extendsat an oblique angle 206 from the generally flat planar portion 160 ofthe body 106, and the body 106 also defines a projection 208 on the rearside 148 extending generally perpendicularly from the generally flatplanar portion 160. In the embodiment shown, the connector 154 is on theprojection 208, and the lateral surface 152 is on the projection 156 and208. However, in alternative embodiments, the connector 154 may be onthe projection 156 or, as indicated above, on the front surface 144 oron the rear surface 150.

Referring to FIG. 8, the body 106 is stackable against an adjacentsimilar body 210 on the front side 142 of the body 106, and against anadjacent similar body 212 on the rear side 148 of the body 106. In theembodiment shown, the adjacent similar body 210 has a lateral surface214 that is substantially the same as the lateral surface 152 of thebody 106, and the lateral surfaces 152 and 214 are positioned such thata portion of the lateral surface 214 of the adjacent similar body 210contacts a portion of the inward-facing surface 158 of the body 106 whenthe adjacent similar body 210 is received in the recess 162 of the body106 and stacked against the front side 142. Further, the adjacentsimilar body 212 has an inward-facing surface 216 that is substantiallythe same as the inward-facing surface 158 of the body 106, and at leasta portion of the lateral surface 152 of the body 106 contacts at least aportion of the inward-facing surface 216 of the adjacent similar body212 when the adjacent similar body 212 is stacked against the rear side148 of the body 106.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the body 106 defines additional projections218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, and 234 on the rear side 148.Referring back to FIG. 7, the projection 218 defines a cavity 236 and anopening shown generally at 238 on the rear side 148 of the body 106 andin communication with the cavity 236. The body 106 also defines anopening 240 extending between the front surface 144 of the body 106 andthe cavity 236. Referring back to FIG. 5, the projections 220, 222, 224,226, 228, 230, 232, and 234 are substantially the same as the projection218 and define respective openings shown generally at 242, 244, 246,248, 250, 252, 254, and 256 that are substantially the same as theopening 238. In general, the openings 238, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252,254, and 256 face inwardly from respective cavities in the respectiveprojections.

Referring back to FIG. 8, the adjacent similar bodies 210 and 212 haverespective projections 258 and 260 that are substantially the same asthe projection 218. When the adjacent similar body 210 is stackedagainst the front side 142 of the body 106, the projection 258 of theadjacent similar body 210 contacts the front surface 144 of the body106, and when the adjacent similar body 212 is stacked against the rearside 148 of the body 106, the projection 218 contacts a front surface262 of the adjacent similar body 212 that is substantially the same asthe front surface 144 of the body 106. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, theprojections 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 258, and 260 insome embodiments may thus increase contact between stacked bodies suchas the stacked bodies 106, 210, and 212 as illustrated in FIG. 8, forexample, and such embodiments may thus have added stability in a stackedsystem of bodies, such as the stacked system shown in FIG. 8 forexample.

Referring back to FIG. 5, on the rear side 148, the body 106 also has aplurality of clips, such as illustrative clips 264 and 266, proximatethe projection 208. Referring back to FIG. 7, the clip 266 includes adeformable curled portion 268 for detachably receiving a light source(not shown) such as a light string of light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”),for example. Thus, referring back to FIG. 5, the plurality of clipsshown proximate the projection 208 function as a light source connectorto connect such a light string to the body 106 substantially around aperimeter of the rear surface 150 of the body 106. Alternativeconnectors for the light source may include tape, for example.

Still referring to FIG. 5, electrical switches 270 and 272 arepositioned on the projection 208 of the body 106 through the lateralsurface 152. Referring to FIG. 9, the electrical switch 270 isillustrated, and the electrical switch 272 is substantially the same.The electrical switches 270 and 272 in the embodiment shown arethree-way switches, and thus both can be connected to a light source(not shown) such that either electrical switch 270 or 272 can turn thelight source on or off. The body 106 may also have a voltage converter(not shown) to supply an appropriate voltage to the light string ofLEDs, for example.

Referring back to FIG. 7, the projection 208 in the embodiment shownincludes a translucent portion 274 for transmitting light from a lightsource (not shown) held in the clips such as the clips 264 and 266.Alternative embodiments may include a detachable translucent cover, oralternatively the translucent portion 274 may be omitted to leave a gapin the body 106 in place of the translucent portion 274, through whichlight may pass. Although in the embodiment shown the only translucentportion is the translucent portion 274, in alternative embodiments otherportions or substantially all of the body 106 may be translucent, inwhich embodiments the body 106 may be formed of a single type ofthermoplastic material.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the cleat 108 defines a plurality ofthrough-openings, such as illustrative through-openings 276 and 278, forreceiving fasteners (not shown) to mount the cleat 108 on a wall (suchas the wall 88 shown in FIG. 1). Such through-openings are elongate inthe embodiment shown to permit fasteners (not shown) to be attached tostuds (not shown) in the wall, and to permit the cleat 108 to beslidable relative to such fasteners, which in some embodiments mayenable the cleat 108 to be mounted on a wall in a position that may notbe unduly restricted by positions of such studs. The cleat 108 alsoincludes projections 280, 282, and 284 having respective upper edges286, 288, and 290. The projections 280, 282, and 284 in the embodimentshown are spaced apart by a common spacing distance, and referring backto FIG. 5, the openings 238, 242, and 244, the openings 246, 248, and250, and the openings 252, 254, and 256 are spaced apart by the samespacing distance. Therefore, in one embodiment, the openings 238, 242,and 244 may receive the projections 284, 282, and 280 respectively tomount the body 106 on the wall (such as the wall 88 shown in FIG. 1) towhich the cleat 108 may be mounted. For example, FIG. 10 illustrates theprojections 280 and 282 received in the openings 244 and 242respectively.

In some embodiments, projections such as the projections 280, 282, and284 may function as latches that cooperate with inner surfaces ofprojections such as the projections 222, 220, and 218 such that theprojections 280, 282, and 284 are releasably held within the projections222, 220, and 218 respectively, and such that the projections 280, 282,and 284 may be temporarily deformed to release the body 106 from thecleat 108. The projections 280, 282, and 284 in the embodiment shown areaccessible from the front side 142 of the body 106, and may thusfunction as release switches to release the body 106 from the cleat 108,and in some embodiments may hold the body 106 on the cleat 108 such thatthe body 106 can only be released from the cleat 108 when the decorativecover 102 and padding 104 have been removed. Such releasable connectionin such embodiments may further secure the body 106, padding 104, anddecorative cover 102 to a wall (such as the wall 88 shown in FIG. 1).

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, respective spaced apart edges of theprojections 218, 220, and 222 thus function as a connector on the body106 for mounting the body 106 on a wall (such as the wall 88 shown inFIG. 1). Further, the plurality of spaced apart upper edges 286, 288,and 290 of the projections 280, 282, and 284 respectively thus functionas a connector complementary to such a connector on the body 106.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the projections 280, 282, and 284 ofthe cleat 108 may alternatively be received in the openings 246, 248,and 250 respectively of the projections 224, 226, and 228 respectively.The projections 224, 226, and 228 include edges that are complementaryto the upper edges 286, 288, and 290 respectively of the projections280, 282, and 284 respectively, and such edges in the projections 224,226, and 228 are generally perpendicular, and more generallynon-parallel, to substantially similar edges in the projections 218,220, and 222. The body 106 may thus be hung in a manner perpendicular tothe manner shown in FIG. 10. Further, the projections 284, 282, and 280of the cleat 108 may also be received in the openings 252, 254, and 256respectively of the projections 230, 232, and 234 respectively, againmounting the body 106 perpendicular to the manner shown in FIG. 10. Theplurality of respective spaced apart edges of the projections 224, 226,and 228 thus also function as another connector for mounting the body106 on a wall (such as the wall 88 shown in FIG. 1), and the pluralityof respective spaced apart edges of the projections 230, 232, and 234also function as a connector for mounting the apparatus body 106 on awall.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the body 106 in the embodiment shown defines,on the rear side 148, a storage compartment 292 for storing objects. Forexample, it may be desirable to store small but valuable objectsinvisibly within the headboard system 100 (shown in FIG. 2). In someembodiments, the storage compartment 292 may hold one or more ofbuttons, a needle, and thread to impart a textured appearance to theouter surface 112 of the decorative cover 102 as described above, forexample. In the embodiment shown, the storage compartment 292 is open atan opening shown generally at 294 on a top side of the storagecompartment 292. However, in alternative embodiments, the storagecompartment 292 may include a removable cover, for example.

Referring back to FIG. 2, in the embodiment shown, the body 106 has aninclination measuring device 296 on the front side 142. The cleat 108also includes an inclination measuring device 298. The inclinationmeasuring devices 296 and 298 in the embodiment shown are removablebubble levels, which in some embodiments may reveal an inclination ofthe body 106 and the cleat 108 respectively relative to gravitationalforce. Such inclination information in such embodiments may assist inpositioning the cleat 108 and the body 106 level in a room, for example.

Referring to FIG. 11, the headboard system 100 is shown assembled suchthat the padding 104 is received in the recess 162 of the body 106 andin the recess 140 of the decorative cover 102. The lateral portions 114,116, 118, and 120 are positioned over the lateral surface 152 of thebody 106 and the connector 154 on the decorative cover 102 is detachablyconnected to the connector 138 on the body 106, leaving the outersurface 112 exposed to decorate a room, for example. The body 106 in theembodiment shown thus functions as an apparatus for holding thedecorative cover 102, and may thus function as a headboard for a bed insome embodiments.

The hook-and-loop connectors 138 and 154 in the embodiment shown mayavoid time and expense that would be involved with upholstering thedecorative cover 102 to the body 106. If there is a desire to change thedecorative cover 102, for example to update the outer surface 112 toreflect a new colour scheme, then the decorative cover 102 may bereplaced simply by detaching the hook-and-loop connectors 138 and 154and reattaching a connector 138 of a new decorative cover 102 to theconnector 154 of the body 106.

In the embodiment shown, the body 106 and the cleat 108 aresubstantially thermoplastic and may be formed from high-densitypolyethylene or polypropylene, for example, although other thermoplasticmaterials, such as carbon plastic for example, may alternatively beused. The body 106 and the cleat 108 may include materials that are notthermoplastic, such as the electrical switches 270 and 272 and theinclination measuring devices 296 and 298 for example, but still be“substantially” thermoplastic. In general, a “substantially”thermoplastic body may include principal structural elements that may beformed in a mold, which may permit relatively inexpensive production ofa large number of such bodies, but such a “substantially” thermoplasticbody may also include elements that are not thermoplastic, such aselements of the electrical switches 270 and 272 and elements of theinclination measuring devices 296 and 298 for example. The body 106 andthe cleat 108 may be made from any commonly available thermoplasticmaterial, which may include an additive such as an additive known asECOPURE™ available from Bio-Tec Environmental, LLC of Albuquerque, NewMexico, for example. Alternative embodiments may include othermaterials, which may not be thermoplastic in some embodiments.

If the headboard system 100 becomes infested with bedbugs, for example,then the decorative cover 102 and the padding 104 may be removed fromthe body 106 and either discarded or cleaned and replaced. For example,to kill bedbugs, the decorative cover 102 may be laundered and thepadding 104 may be simply left in storage for a sufficient period oftime, among other possibilities. Further, the body 106 is substantiallythermoplastic and thus may be readily cleaned, and a new or cleaneddecorative cover 102 and new or cleaned padding 104 may be installed onthe cleaned body 106, which in some embodiments may avoid waste,expense, and environmental damage of replacing entire headboards. Suchreduced waste and expense may be particularly advantageous in largeinstitutions such as hotels for example, where responding to bedbuginfestations can be very costly. Further, if it is desired to change anappearance of the decorative cover 102 or to change the padding 104, forexample, then only those components need be replaced, which may reducecosts to change décor or padding material in one or more rooms or in anentire hotel, for example.

More generally, the headboard system 100 may be more hygienic than knownheadboards, such as upholstered headboards for example, because thesubstantially thermoplastic body 106 in some embodiments may besanitized or otherwise cleaned, and the decorative cover 102 and thepadding 104 may be removed, cleaned, and replaced, whereas similarcomponents in upholstered headboards, for example, generally cannot bereused and must be discarded once removed. Therefore, some embodimentsof a substantially thermoplastic body having any holder for holding adecorative cover in a headboard may be advantageous over many knownheadboards.

Further, one or both of the body 106 and the cleat 108 may includediatomaceous earth incorporated therein. In one embodiment, diatomaceousearth is incorporated in the body 106 by adding the diatomaceous earthto the thermoplastic material of the body 106 when the thermoplasticmaterial is in a liquid phase before the thermoplastic material isinjected into a mold. In one embodiment, about 30% by weight of the body106 is diatomaceous earth. Further, additional diatomaceous earth may beadhered to the outwardly facing lateral surface 152 or other surfaces ofthe body 106. In some experiments, it has been found that bodiesincluding diatomaceous earth in that manner effectively kill bedbugsthat are in proximity to such a body. In one such experiment, such abody continued to cause death to bedbugs for at least one year after thebody was manufactured. Therefore, such materials may further prevent orreduce bedbug infestations, which can be very costly in largeinstitutions such as hotels, for example.

The diatomaceous earth in some embodiments may include CELATOM™ MN-51,which is available from EP Minerals, LLC of 9785 Gateway Drive, Suite1000, Reno, Nev., United States of America, and which may beheat-treated or flash dried at about 900° F. (about 480° C.) or at othertemperatures, for example. In one embodiment, flash drying diatomaceousearth involves heating the diatomaceous earth at about 900° F. (about480° C.) for about 15 seconds. It is believed that such heat treatmentor flash drying may change the characteristics of the diatomaceous earthto be more abrasive and thus more damaging to animal exoskeletons, ormore particularly to bedbug exoskeletons, and that such heat treatmentor flash drying may also dry out the diatomaceous earth, thereby makingthe diatomaceous earth more absorbent to dehydrate and kill an animalsuch as bedbug and potentially more effective in various embodimentsincluding the various embodiments described herein.

The diatomaceous earth known as CELATOM™ MN-51 may be particularlyeffective in some embodiments, and such diatomaceous earth is believedto have the following properties.

TABLE 1 Properties of CELATOM ™ MN-51. Structure Natural Colour BeigeG.E. Brightness 75 Sieve Analysis (Tyler) 6.5 % + 325 Mesh (>44 microns)Median Particle Diameter (microns) 15.0 pH (10% slurry) 7.5 FreeMoisture (Maximum % H₂O) Less than 5.0 (Typical % H₂O) 3.0 Density(lb/ft³) (g/l) Wet Bulk 24 385 Dry Bulk 11 176 Specific Gravity 2.00Refractive Index 1.46 Oil Absorption (ASTM F 726-81) % by weight 150Water Absorption (ASTM F 726-81) % by weight 165 Chemical Analysis SiO₂73.6% Al₂O₃ 7.8% Fe₂O₃ 1.8% CaO 5.6% MgO 0.3% Other Oxides 2.3% Loss onIgnition 5.5%

In an alternative embodiment, the diatomaceous earth may includediatomaceous earth known as CELATOM™ MN-53, which is also available fromEP Minerals, LLC of 9785 Gateway Drive, Suite 1000, Reno, Nev., UnitedStates of America. The diatomaceous earth known as CELATOM™ MN-53 isbelieved to have the following properties.

TABLE 2 Properties of CELATOM ™ MN-53. Structure Natural Colour BeigeG.E. Brightness 65 Sieve Analysis (Tyler) 5.0 % + 325 Mesh (>44 microns)Median Particle Diameter (microns) 14.0 pH (10% slurry) 7.0 FreeMoisture (Maximum % H₂O) Less than 5.0 (Typical % H₂O) 3.0 Density(lb/ft³) (g/l) Wet Bulk 31 500 Dry Bulk 11 175 Specific Gravity 2.00Refractive Index 1.46 Oil Absorption (ASTM F 726-81) % by weight 150Water Absorption (ASTM F 726-81) % by weight 165 Chemical Analysis SiO₂83.7% Al₂O₃ 5.6% Fe₂O₃ 2.3% CaO 0.9% MgO 0.3% Other Oxides 1.9% Loss onIgnition 5.0%

In one experiment on Jun. 23, 2011, small plastic Petri dishes availablefrom Gelman Sciences™, each about 5.0 centimeters (“cm”) or about 2.0inches in diameter, were used in bioassays. A small opening of about 1.5cm (or about 0.6 inches) in diameter was cut in the lid and closed witha piece of gauze to allow air for bedbug breathing. The Petri disheswere lined with a filter paper about 4.25 cm (or about 1.7 inches) indiameter. Diatomaceous earth was weighed and spread uniformly over thefilter paper with forceps. Ten adult field-collected bedbugs wereintroduced in each of the Petri dishes, and the lids were placed overthem to prevent their escape. Petri dishes were transferred in a plasticbox lined with paper towels sprayed with water to maintain humidity inthe box. Experiments were conducted at room temperature, and mortalitywas noted 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after the bedbugs were introducedinto of the Petri dishes. Four concentrations, between about 0.5 andabout 2.0 milligrams (“mg”), were used to calculate a lowest lethalconcentration sufficient to kill 50% of the bedbugs (“LC₅₀”) of eachproduct. There was a single replication of 10 bedbugs each.

Tables 3 and 4 below show mortality data from the Jun. 23, 2011experiment, where L refers to a number of bedbugs still living after acorresponding time given in the tables, and D refers to a number thatdied after the time given.

TABLE 3 Toxicity of adult bedbugs to CELATOM ™ MN-51. Amount ofCELATOM ™ MN-51 2.0 mg 1.0 mg 0.8 mg 0.5 mg Time (hours) L D L D L D L D48 0 10 3 7 4 6 5 5 76 0 3 0 4 0 5

TABLE 4 Toxicity of adult bedbugs to CELATOM ™ MN-53. Amount ofCELATOM ™ MN-53 2.0 mg 1.0 mg 0.8 mg 0.5 mg Time (hours) L D L D L D L D48 6 4 9 1 7 3 8 2 76 6 4 9 1 7 3 8 2 92 0 6 4 6 6 4 7 3

All of the bedbugs died in CELATOM™ MN-51 diatomaceous earth after 48hours. Therefore, LC₅₀ for CELATOM™ MN-51 was calculated for 48 hoursonly, and LC₅₀ after 48 hours for CELATOM™ MN-51 was calculated as 0.7mg. The data after 48 hours for CELATOM™ MN-53 were not good forcalculation, and therefore LC₅₀ for CELATOM™ MN-53 was calculated after96 hours as 0.8 mg (0.552-1.052).

The relatively low LC₅₀ for CELATOM™ MN-51 suggests that CELATOM™ MN-51may be more toxic for bedbugs than CELATOM™ MN-53, and that CELATOM™MN-51 may be particularly effective for the control of insects, or moreparticularly for the control of bedbugs.

In another experiment on Feb. 1, 2012, six Petri dishes (each about 5.0cm or about 2.0 inches in diameter) were sprayed with an aerosolincluding CELATOM™ MN-51, and a thin coating of the CELATOM™ MN-51remained after drying; those six Petri dishes were used for anexperimental group. An additional six Petri dishes (each 5.0 cm or about2.0 inches in diameter) did not receive the aerosol or the diatomaceousearth; those six Petri dishes were used for a control group. Fivebedbugs were introduced into each of the 12 Petri dishes, and lids wereapplied to prevent the bedbugs from escaping. Mortality was assessed 3,15, 18, and 24 hours after the bedbugs were introduced into the Petridishes, and there was no mortality in the control group. Mortality inthe experimental group is shown in Table 5 below.

TABLE 5 Number of bedbugs dead from aerosol including CELATOM ™ MN-51.Number dead Petri dish Number dead Number dead Number dead after numberafter 3 hours after 15 hours after 18 hours 24 hours 1 0 5 5 5 2 0 2 3 53 0 5 5 5 4 0 4 5 5 5 0 5 5 5 6 0 3 3 5 Total 0 24 26 30

Thus, in the Feb. 1, 2012 experiment, all of the bedbugs exposed to theaerosol including CELATOM™ MN-51 died within 24 hours, whereas none ofthe control group bedbugs died within 24 hours.

Another experiment on Feb. 12, 2012 involved plastic RUBBERMAID™translucent boxes (about 73.6 cm×about 45.7 cm×about 33.7 cm, or about29 inches×about 18 inches×about 13.3 inches), more particularly two suchboxes as experimental boxes and two such boxes as control boxes. Asection about 20 cm (or about 7.9 inches) wide in the center of each ofthe experimental boxes was sprayed with the aerosol including CELATOM™MN-51 and allowed to dry. A piece of a field-collected sheet (about 50cm×about 24 cm, or about 19.7 inches×about 7.9 inches) was lined on oneside of each of the boxes and used as a stimulant. The sheet wascollected from a home infested with bedbugs, and had eggs and manyfreshly fed bedbugs, but the bedbugs were collected from the sheetbefore placing pieces of the sheet into the boxes. Sides of the boxesopposite the pieces of the field-collected sheet were lined with a cleanand new piece of cloth. Fifty adult bedbugs were introduced into eachbox on the clean cloth, and then the box was closed with a lid. Thecontrol boxes were similar to the experimental boxes but did not includethe aerosol.

In all four of the boxes, the bedbugs moved from the sides of the boxeshaving the clean cloths to the sides of the boxes having the pieces ofthe field-collected sheet. There was no mortality in the control boxesafter 48 hours, but after 24 hours, one of the experimental boxes hadmortality of 43 of the 50 bedbugs, and the other of the experimentalboxes had mortality of 45 of the 50 bedbugs. All of the bedbugs in theexperimental boxes died after 48 hours. The bedbugs were found deadlying on their backs and dusted with the product from the aerosol.Therefore, it is believed that even a brief exposure as bedbugs cross anarea treated with CELATOM™ MN-51 is sufficient to cause high mortalityin the bedbugs.

It is also believed that when one bedbug contacts diatomaceous earth,that bedbug may spread the diatomaceous earth to other bedbugs, andtherefore causing one bedbug to contact diatomaceous earth may causedeath of several bedbugs. For example, in one experiment, a bedbug wasallowed to contact diatomaceous earth and a fluorescent dye directly,and that bedbug was allowed to contact several other bedbugs that hadnot been allowed to contact the diatomaceous earth directly. It wasfound that many of the bedbugs that had not been allowed to contact thediatomaceous earth directly died shortly after contacting the bedbugthat did contact the diatomaceous earth directly. Also, the fluorescentdye was observed on the bedbugs that died shortly after contacting thebedbug that did contact the diatomaceous earth directly, suggesting thatsuch bedbugs came into contact with diatomaceous earth by contacting thebedbug that had contacted the diatomaceous earth directly. Therefore, itis believed that causing one bedbug to contacted diatomaceous earthdirectly may in some cases cause the deaths of several bedbugs.

In another experiment on Feb. 18, 2012, mortality of CELATOM™ MN-51 wascompared with two commercially available insecticides, namely theinsecticides known as ALPINE DUST™ and MOTHER EARTH™. The variousproducts were weighed on a small filter paper, which was then placed ina Petri dish (about 5.0 cm or about 2 inches diameter). Bedbugs wereintroduced in the various Petri dishes, and mortality was assessed ineach of the Petri dishes after 24 hours and after 48 hours. Fourconcentrations of each product were used, the concentrations rangingfrom 0.25 mg to 4 mg, and there were three replications of between 9 and11 bedbugs in each replication. A probit analysis was used to calculateLC₅₀ and LC₉₅ (lowest lethal concentrations sufficient to kill 95% ofthe bedbugs) values and confidence intervals (“CIs”) for the LC₅₀ andLC₉₅ values, as shown in Table 6 below.

TABLE 6 LC₅₀, LC₉₅, and CI for CELATOM ™ MN-51, ALPINE DUST ™, andMOTHER EARTH ™. Product Time (hours) LC₅₀ CI of LC₅₀ LC₉₅ CI of LC₉₅CELATOM ™ 24 0.24 0.14-0.32 0.95 0.69-1.98 MN-51 ALPINE 24 6.36 3.83-29.27 52.57 15.88-3366  DUST ™ ALPINE 48 1.72 1.37-2.18 6.6 4.47-13.44 DUST ™ MOTHER 24 0.26 0.14-0.36 1.37 0.91-3.44 EARTH ™

The data in Table 6 show that CELATOM™ MN-51 required lowerconcentrations (specifically lower LC₅₀ and LC₉₅, and lower CIs forthose values) than ALPINE DUST™ and MOTHER EARTH™ in that experiment,and therefore it is believed that CELATOM™ MN-51 may generally be moreeffective than ALPINE DUST™ and MOTHER EARTH™ in controlling populationsof bedbugs.

In general, it is believed that diatomaceous earth may damageexoskeletons of animals having exoskeletons, which damage may lead todehydration and death of the animals. Therefore, it is believed thatdiatomaceous earth, and various apparatuses, kits, and systems such asthose including diatomaceous earth as described herein, may be effectivein the control of populations of one or more of animals havingexoskeletons, arthropods, arachnids, insects, and bedbugs. Herein,“control” of an animal population may include prevention of growth orsurvival of such a population before discovery of the population, andalso killing one or more members of such a population after discovery ofthe population. Diatomaceous earth is also a natural product, and ingeneral, natural products may be preferable over other pest controlproducts because natural products may be less harmful to humans or moregenerally to the environment. Animals that may desirably be killed bydiatomaceous earth also include cockroaches, ants, fleas, and otherpests.

Although CELATOM™ MN-51 and CELATOM™ MN-53 and other products have beendiscussed above, some embodiments may include other types ofdiatomaceous earth, which may be supplied by other suppliers. Ingeneral, such diatomaceous earth in some embodiments may be heat-treatedor flash dried diatomaceous earth, such as diatomaceous earth flashdried at about 480° C. for about 15 seconds for example, or may moregenerally be modified diatomaceous earth. More generally, suchdiatomaceous earth may have one or more properties similar to one ormore of the properties of CELATOM™ MN-51 or CELATOM™ MN-53 listed inTables 1 and 2 above in order to achieve effects that may be similar tothe effects of CELATOM™ MN-51 or CELATOM™ MN-53 described above.

Further, other embodiments may include products other than diatomaceousearth that may be effective to control bedbug populations or moregenerally as an insecticide or pesticide. For example, U.S. Pat. No.8,101,408 describes various legume extracts, such as one or more ofPA1b-related peptides, terpenoid saponins, triterpenoid saponin,soyasaponin I, soyasaponin II, soyasaponin III, soyasaponin VI,dehydrosoyasaponin I, echinocystic acid 3-glucoside, glycyrrhizic acid,hederacoside C, beta-escin, alpha-hederin, and other acetic acidprecipitated insecticidal components. In various embodiments, one orboth of diatomaceous earth and such legume extracts may be incorporatedinto thermopoastic bodies, for example by adding the diatomaceous earth,the legume extracts, or both to the thermoplastic material of the bodywhen the thermoplastic material is in a liquid phase and before thethermoplastic material is injected into a mold.

Still referring to FIG. 11, the decorative cover 102 and the body 106may be manufactured to have the hook-and-loop connectors 138 and 154 inpredetermined positions on the decorative cover 102 and on the body 106respectively, and such predetermined positions may be determined toimpart a desired position and tension of the decorative cover 102 overthe padding 104. Therefore, the decorative cover 102 may be installedwith such a desired position and tension simply by aligning theconnector 138 with the connector 154. Therefore, in the embodimentshown, the connector 154 on the body 106 complementary to the connector138 on the decorative cover 102 may simplify holding the decorativecover 102 on the body 106 because a desirable position of decorativecover 102 on the body 106 may be predetermined by the respectivepositions of the complementary connectors 138 and 154, which mayeliminate a need to position a decorative cover carefully on a framewhile connecting the decorative cover to the frame. Further, in someembodiments, there is no need to stretch or deform the decorative cover102 when installing it on the body 106.

Still further, in the embodiment shown, the connectors 138 and 154 arecontinuous hook-and-loop connectors, and therefore may avoid unsightlylooks that can result from connecting a decorative cover only atdiscrete points on a frame.

Referring to FIG. 12, another illustrative body is shown generally at300 and has a front side shown generally at 302 and having a frontsurface 304. The front surface 304 includes a generally flat planarportion 306 and an inward-facing portion 308. The body 300 also has arear side shown generally at 310 opposite the front side 302, and anoutwardly facing lateral surface 312. The inward facing portion 308 ofthe front surface 304 is therefore between the generally flat planarportion 306 and the lateral surface 312 of the body 300. The body 300 issubstantially similar to the body 106 discussed above, may similarlyfunction as an apparatus for holding a decorative cover, and may includesimilar materials to the body 106, although the inward-facing portion308 includes a first portion 314 adjacent and extending generallyperpendicular to the generally flat planar portion 306, a second portion316 adjacent the first portion 314 and extending non-parallel to thefirst portion 314 and away from the generally flat planar portion 306,and a third portion 318 adjacent the second portion 316 and extendinggenerally parallel to the first portion 314 and away from the generallyflat planar portion 306. Also, the lateral surface 312 in the embodimentshown includes a complementary portion 320 that is generallycomplementary to the inward-facing portion 308.

Therefore, referring to FIG. 13, the body 300 is stackable against anadjacent similar body 322 on the front side 302 of the body 300, andagainst an adjacent similar body 324 on the rear side 310 of the body300. Thus, the complementary portion 320 of the lateral surface 312 ofthe adjacent similar body 322 contacts the inward-facing portion 308 ofthe body 300 when the adjacent similar body 322 is stacked against thefront side 302 of the body 300. Further, the complementary portion 320of the lateral surface 312 of the body 300 contacts the inward-facingportion 308 of the adjacent similar body 324 when the adjacent similarbody 324 is stacked against the rear side 310 of the body 300.

Referring to FIGS. 14, 15, and 16, another illustrative body is showngenerally at 326 and includes a front side shown generally at 328 and anopposite rear side shown generally at 330. The front side 328 has afront surface 332 having a perimeter 334, and includes a generally flatplanar portion 336 and an inward-facing portion 338. The body 326 alsoincludes an outwardly facing lateral surface 340 between the frontsurface 332 and a rear surface 342 on the rear side 330. The body 326defines a plurality of through-openings such as illustrativethrough-openings 344 and 346 for receiving respective fasteners asdiscussed above with the through-opening 172 shown in FIG. 6, forexample. The through-openings such as the through-opening 344 and 346also have respective cleats 348 and 350 that are substantially the sameas the cleat 182 discussed above and shown in FIG. 6. On the rear side330, the body 326 defines projections 352, 354, and 356 havingrespective through-openings shown generally at 358, 360, and 362 forreceiving respective projections 364, 366, and 368 of a wall-mountablecleat 370 that is substantially the same as the cleat 108 discussedabove. The body 326 also defines, on the rear side 330, projections 372,374, and 376 having respective through-openings shown generally at 378,380, and 382 for receiving the projections 368, 366, and 364respectively of the cleat 370. The body 326 is thus wall-mountable in afirst orientation when the projections 364, 366, and 368 are received inthe through-openings 358, 360, and 362 respectively, and in a secondorientation perpendicular to the first orientation when the projections364, 366, and 368 are received in the through-openings 382, 380, and 378respectively. The spaced apart edges of the projections 364, 366, and368 thus function as a connector, the spaced apart edges of theprojections 356, 354, and 352 thus function as a connector complementaryto the spaced apart edges of the projections 364, 366, and 368, and thespaced apart edges of the projections 376, 374, and 372 also function asa connector complementary to the spaced apart edges of the projections364, 366, and 368.

The body 326 also has a connector 384 continuously adjacent theperimeter 334 of the front surface 332, and in the embodiment shown theconnector 384 is on the lateral surface 340. The connector 384 iscomplementary to a connector such as the connector 138 on the decorativecover 102 shown in FIG. 3, and thus the body 326 also functions as anapparatus for holding a decorative cover.

The body 326 also defines additional through-openings such asillustrative through-openings 386 and 388, which may reduce a weight andmanufacturing cost of the body 326. In the embodiment shown, theadditional through-openings such as the through-openings 386 and 388 aregenerally rectangular and separated by generally linear members such asillustrative generally linear members 390 and 392, which havethrough-openings such as the through-openings 344 and 346 and cleatssuch as the cleats 348 and 350. However, in alternative embodiments, thethrough-openings such as the through-openings 386 and 388 may be omittedor closed by thin films of thermoplastic material (not shown) receivedagainst the front surface 332.

The body 326 also has clips such as illustrative clips 394 and 396, andsuch clips function as a light source connector for holding a lightsource (not shown), which may include a plurality of LED lights in alight string, for example. The clips such as the clips 394 and 396 aresubstantially the same as the clips such as the clips 264 and 266 shownin FIGS. 5 and 7 and discussed above.

Also, on the rear side 330, the body 326 defines a storage compartment398 for storing objects. In the embodiment shown, the storagecompartment 398 includes a removable cover 400. Again, in someembodiments, the storage compartment 398 may hold one or more ofbuttons, a needle, and thread to impart a textured appearance to theouter surface 112 of the decorative cover 102 as described above, forexample.

The body 326 also includes additional projections 402, 406, 408, and 410on the rear surface 342 to contact at least a portion of an adjacentsimilar apparatus when the adjacent similar apparatus is stacked againstthe rear side 330 of the body 326. The additional projections 402, 406,408, and 410 in some embodiments may thus impart greater stability to asystem of stacked similar bodies. The body 326, and other bodies andcleats such as those disclosed herein, may be made from materials suchas those discussed above for the body 106.

Referring to FIG. 25, another illustrative embodiment is shown generallyat 474 and is similar to the body 326 shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16,except that on a rear side 476 of the body 474, the body 474 definesreceptacles 478, 480, 482, and 484. In the embodiment shown, thereceptacles 478 and 480 receive a support 486, and the receptacles 482and 484 receive a support 488. When the support 486 is received fully inthe receptacles 478 and 480, an exposed end shown generally at 490 ofthe support 486 has a plurality of through-openings 492 for receivingfasteners (not shown) to attach the support 490 to a bed frame (notshown). Likewise, when the support 488 is fully received in thereceptacles 482 and 484, an exposed end shown generally at 494 of thesupport 488 defines a plurality of through-openings 496 for receivingfasteners (not shown) for attaching the support 488 to the bed frame(not shown). The receptacles 478, 480, 482, and 484 thus function as aconnector for connecting the body 474 to a bed frame.

Referring to FIGS. 17, 18, and 19, another illustrative body is showngenerally at 412 and is similar to the body 326 except that on a rearside 414 of the body 412, the body 412 includes a plurality ofstructural reinforcing ribs such as illustrative structural reinforcingribs 416 and 418.

The body 412 in the embodiment shown is substantially thermoplastic andmay be formed in a mold. Such molds are costly to produce, and thereforesuch molds are preferably adjustable in size to produce bodies similarto the body 412 but having different dimensions. For example, referringto FIG. 17, the line 420 divides the body 412 into portions 422 and 424that may be formed by respective separate portions of a mold. Thoseportions of the mold may be separated, and an additional portion of themold may be inserted therebetween to form a body similar to the body 412but larger by having an additional portion (not shown) between theportions 422 and 424.

In the embodiment shown, the body 412 has a height 426 of about 109.2 cm(or about 43 inches), and a width 428 of about 147.3 cm (or about 58inches). Such dimensions may be suitable for a headboard for a NorthAmerican double-sized bed having a width of about 137.2 cm (or about 54inches). However, in North America, a queen-sized bed having a width ofabout 152 cm (or about 60 inches) is also common, and therefore a bodysuitable for use as a headboard for a North American queen-sized bed mayhave a width of about 162.6 cm (or about 64 inches) by expanding themold by inserting a mold expansion portion into the mold, the moldexpansion portion having a width of about 15.3 cm (or about 6 inches) tocause an additional portion having a width of about 15.3 cm (or about 6inches) to be formed in the body 412 between the portions 422 and 424.Also, some North American king-size beds have a width of about 203.2 cm(or about 80 inches), and therefore two bodies 412 may be rotated by 90°and positioned adjacent each other to have a common width of about 218.4cm (or about 86 inches, namely about twice the height 426) and to have acommon height of about 147.3 cm (or about 58 inches, namely about equalto the width 428). Therefore, with a mold expansion portion to form anadditional portion between the portions 422 and 424, a single mold mayproduce bodies suitable for headboards of three different sizes of beds,such as North American double-, queen-, and king-sized beds for example.

In alternative embodiments, a body may include telescoping portions topermit adjustment of an overall size of the body.

Referring to FIG. 20, another illustrative body is shown generally at430 and is similar to the body 412 except that the body 430 includesadditional generally linear members 432 and 434 for additionalstructural strength. The body 430 also may function as an apparatus forholding a decorative cover similar to the bodies 106, 300, 326, and 412,and may include similar materials as described above.

Referring to FIG. 21, another illustrative body is shown generally at436. The body 436 may function as an apparatus for holding a decorativecover similar to the bodies 106, 300, 326, 412, and 430, and may includesimilar materials as described above. The body 436 has a rear side showngenerally at 438 and having a rear surface 440. The body 436 definesthrough-openings generally at 442, 444, and 446 for receiving fastenerssimilar to the through-opening 172 discussed above and shown in FIG. 6,for example.

The body 436 also defines through-openings 448 and 450. Thethrough-opening 448 is adjacent a bevelled edge 452, and thethrough-opening 450 is adjacent a bevelled edge 454. The bevelled edges452 and 454 are connectors complementary to a French cleat to mount thebody 436 on a wall (such as the wall 88 shown in FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 22, an illustrative French cleat is shown generally at456 and includes a bevelled edge 458 for contacting one of the bevellededges 452 and 454 on the body 436 shown in FIG. 21. The bevelled edge458 of the French cleat 456 thus also functions as a connector. TheFrench cleat 456 also has through-openings shown generally at 460 and462 for receiving fasteners (not shown) for mounting the French cleat456 on a wall (such as the wall 88 shown in FIG. 1). The French cleat456 is thus wall-mountable. The French cleat 456 also includes aninclination measuring device 464, which in the embodiment shown is abubble level to facilitate mounting the French cleat 456 on a wall (suchas the wall 88 shown in FIG. 1) such that the bevelled edge 458 islevel.

Referring to FIG. 23, the body 436 is shown with the bevelled edge 454of the body 436 nearly in contact with the bevelled edge 458 of theFrench cleat 456. When the body 436 is lowered relative to the Frenchcleat 456 such that the bevelled edge 454 of the body 436 contacts thebevelled edge 458 of the French cleat 456, the body 436 is supported bythe French cleat 456 and thus mounted on the wall. In the embodimentshown, the bevelled edge 454 is longer than the bevelled edge 458, andtherefore the body 436 in some embodiments can be moved relative to theFrench cleat 456 to position the body 436 in a desired position, such asat the head of a bed, for example.

Referring to FIG. 24, an adjacent similar body 466 is stackable againsta front side 468 of the body 436, and a similar adjacent body 470 isstackable against the rear side 438 of the body 436.

The embodiments described above are substantially rectangular, but oneskilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments may havenon-rectangular shapes. As illustrative examples, FIG. 26 illustrates aheadboard 498 having a shape that may be referred to as an “arched”shape, FIG. 27 illustrates a headboard 500 having a shape that may bereferred to as a “camel back” shape, and FIG. 28 illustrates a headboard502 having a generally rectangular shape with rounded upper corners. Itwill be appreciated that embodiments such as those illustrated in FIGS.2 to 25 may alternatively have shapes such as those illustrated in FIGS.26 to 28, for example.

As indicated above, the bodies disclosed above may form part ofheadboard systems that hold decorative covers without requiringconventional upholstery techniques and without requiring other morecumbersome alternatives to upholstery. Further, the bodies discussedabove may be used to hold decorative covers for applications other thanheadboards, such as decorating walls more generally, for example. Stillfurther, the bodies discussed above may be stacked as shown in thedrawings, for example, and such stacking may permit compact andcost-effective shipping while the contact between adjacent similarbodies stabilizes the bodies during shipping, which may reduce damageduring shipping that may be caused from relative movement of adjacentbodies. Further, light sources such as those disclosed above may enhancethe visual appearance of walls to which the bodies disclosed above aremounted.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the nightstand 92 includes legs 504, 506, 508,and 510 for contacting the floor 86. The nightstand 92 also includes agenerally rectangular frame 512 supported by the legs 504, 506, 508, and510 over the floor 86, and the nightstand 92 also includes a drawer 514slidably receivable in the generally rectangular frame 512. In variousembodiments, one or more of the legs 504, 506, 508, and 510, thegenerally rectangular frame 512, and the drawer 514 are substantiallythermoplastic bodies of the nightstand, which is a furniture apparatus.One or more of such substantially thermoplastic bodies may be formed ina mold, and in some embodiments, carbon plastic may be desirable becauseof durability, a polished finish, and various colours that may beavailable with carbon plastic.

Still further, one or more of such substantially thermoplastic bodiesmay include incorporated therein one or more of the diatomaceous earthproducts and legume extracts discussed above. As with the otherembodiments discussed, above, such diatomaceous earth, legume extracts,or both may be incorporated into such substantially thermoplastic bodiesby adding the diatomaceous earth, the legume extracts, or both to thethermoplastic material when the thermoplastic material is in a liquidphase before the thermoplastic material is injected into a mold. In oneembodiment, about 30% by weight of such substantially thermoplasticbodies may be diatomaceous earth or a mixture of diatomaceous earth andone or more legume extracts. Further, additional diatomaceous earth,legume extracts, or both may be adhered to inner surfaces of suchsubstantially thermoplastic bodies, such as inner surfaces of thegenerally rectangular frame 512 or the drawer 514 for example, forfurther exposure of the diatomaceous earth to animals such as bedbugs.

In alternative embodiments, the generally rectangular frame 512 and thedrawer 514 may be replaced by a table surface platform supported by legssimilar to the legs 504, 506, 508, and 510. According to such anembodiment, a furniture apparatus may include a table includingsubstantially thermoplastic bodies and one or both of diatomaceous earthand legume extracts as described above.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the dresser 94 includes a generallyrectangular frame 516 and a plurality of drawers, such as the drawers518 and 520, slidably receivable in the generally rectangular frame 516.The generally rectangular frame 516 and the plurality of drawersslidably receivable therein may be substantially the same as thegenerally rectangular frame 512 and the drawer 514 described above.

The bed 96 includes a generally rectangular platform 522 for supportingthe mattress 98. The bed 96 also includes four substantiallythermoplastic bodies at respective corners of the generally rectangularplatform 522, and such substantially thermoplastic bodies 524, 526, and528 are shown in FIG. 1. Such substantially thermoplastic bodies in theembodiment shown are generally cylindrical, and act as supports forcontacting the floor 86 and for supporting the generally rectangularplatform 522 and thus the mattress 98 above the floor 86. In alternativeembodiments, the bed 96 may include more or fewer substantiallythermoplastic bodies acting as such supports.

As indicated above, in some embodiments, carbon plastic may be adesirable material for some furniture apparatuses because carbon plasticmay be coloured with a desired colour, and externally visible surfacesof the carbon plastic may be polished to reveal the desired colour witha durable and attractive polished finish. Further, in some embodiments,one or more internal surfaces (such as internal surfaces of thegenerally rectangular frames 512 and 516 shown in FIG. 1, for example,which may be visible when drawers are removed from the generallyrectangular frames but otherwise visibly concealed by the drawers) maybe darkly coloured, such as coloured black or another dark colour. Thus,when diatomaceous earth, for example, is applied to such internalsurfaces, the lighter colour of the diatomaceous earth may make thediatomaceous earth more easily visible on such surfaces, and mayfacilitate noticing an absence of such products on such surfaces.Therefore, such darkly coloured internal surfaces in some embodimentsmay assist with visibly determining whether such internal surfaces havebeen sprayed or otherwise treated with diatomaceous earth or anothermore lightly coloured product, and such visual determinations mayfacilitate determining where and when such diatomaceous earth or otherproducts should be applied to ensure a desired amount of suchdiatomaceous earth or other products on various furniture apparatuses.

Although the nightstand 92, the dresser 94, the bed 96, the mattress 98,and the headboard system 100 are described above, various furnitureapparatuses, kits, and systems according to alternative embodiments mayinclude one or more substantially thermoplastic bodies includingdiatomaceous earth, legume extracts, or both incorporated therein, andsuch furniture apparatuses according to some embodiments may assist inthe control of bedbug and other animal populations. Therefore,commercial use of such apparatuses, kits, and systems may involvedistributing, selling, offering for sale, or placing such apparatuses,kits, and systems in bedrooms or hotel rooms in an effort to controlpopulations of animals, such as animals having exoskeletons, arthropods,arachnids, insects, and Cimex lectularius for example, in such bedroomsor hotel rooms.

Further, it is believed that bedbugs are often introduced into a bedroomor hotel room from occupants of the bedroom or hotel room, or from thebelongings of the occupants of the bedroom or hotel room. It is alsobelieved that such occupants and belongings are likely to be on one ormore of a bed, nightstand, and dresser in the bedroom or hotel room, andtherefore that bedbugs are likely to be introduced into the bedroom orhotel room in one or more of a bed, nightstand, and dresser in thebedroom or hotel room. It is also believed that bedbugs are likely todwell in a bed in the bedroom or hotel room. Therefore, in someembodiments, the nightstand 92, the dresser 94, the bed 96, and theheadboard system 100 may cooperate with each other and collectivelyfacilitate control of bedbugs by controlling bedbugs in particularlocations where bedbugs may be introduced or may likely dwell into thebedroom or hotel room.

Although specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, suchembodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only andnot as limiting the invention as construed according to the accompanyingclaims.

1. An apparatus for holding a decorative cover, the apparatuscomprising: a body having front and rear opposite sides, the front sideof the body having a front surface having a perimeter, the rear side ofthe body having a rear surface, and the body having an outwardly facinglateral surface between the front and rear surfaces; and a firstconnector on the body, the first connector detachably connectable,continuously adjacent at least a portion of the perimeter of the frontsurface, to a second connector, complementary to the first connector, onthe decorative cover. 2-27. (canceled)
 28. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the body is substantially thermoplastic.
 29. The apparatus ofclaim 28 wherein the body comprises carbon plastic. 30-31. (canceled)32. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the body comprises diatomaceousearth incorporated in the body.
 33. The apparatus of claim 32 whereinthe diatomaceous earth is about 30% by weight of the body. 34-37.(canceled)
 38. A headboard apparatus comprising a substantiallythermoplastic body having a holder for holding a decorative cover. 39.The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the body comprises carbon plastic. 40.A furniture apparatus comprising at least one substantiallythermoplastic body and a PA1b-related peptide incorporated in one ormore of the at least one body.
 41. (canceled)
 42. The furnitureapparatus of claim 40 wherein the body further comprises diatomaceousearth incorporated in the body.
 43. A furniture apparatus comprising atleast one substantially thermoplastic body and diatomaceous earthincorporated in one or more of the at least one body.
 44. The apparatusof claim 43 wherein the diatomaceous earth is about 30% by weight of theone or more of the at least one body.
 45. The apparatus of claim 43wherein the at least one body comprises carbon plastic.
 46. Theapparatus of claim 43 wherein the furniture apparatus comprises anapparatus for holding a decorative cover.
 47. The apparatus of claim 43wherein the furniture apparatus comprises a bed.
 48. The apparatus ofclaim 47 wherein the at least one substantially thermoplastic bodycomprises at least one support for contacting a floor of a room, andwherein the bed comprises a platform supportable by the at least onesupport and configured to support a mattress on the platform.
 49. Theapparatus of claim 43 wherein the furniture apparatus comprises a table.50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the at least one substantiallythermoplastic body comprises at least one support for contacting a floorof a room, and wherein the table comprises a platform supportable by theat least one support.
 51. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein thefurniture apparatus comprises a dresser.
 52. The apparatus of claim 43wherein the article of furniture comprises a nightstand.
 53. Theapparatus of claim 43 wherein the diatomaceous earth comprises CELATOM™MN-51.
 54. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the diatomaceous earth hasa median particle diameter of about 15 microns.
 55. The apparatus ofclaim 43 wherein the diatomaceous earth has a median particle diameterof more than about 14 microns. 56-77. (canceled)